A lot has changed in the twenty years since my first Bloodstock. What began as a relatively small indoor gathering in the middle of Derby city centre now welcomes around fifteen thousand metal fans from around the world annually. From two days, two halls, a signing room, and a “Metal Market” to four days, four stages, a signing tent, art gallery, gaming zone, and curiosities such as Viking battles and even early morning Heavy Metal Aerobics sessions, the changes to Bloodstock have been gradual but necessary.
Swedish melodic death metal outfit Amon Amarth is the very definition of consistency in metal today. Deceiver Of The Gods, the band’s latest album, is as solid as they come. Ghost Cult caught up with drummer Fredrik Andersson to discuss working with famed producer Andy Sneap, the merits of being isolated and how to counter stagnation as a band among other topics.
Deceiver of the Gods is the ninth album from Swedish melodic death metallers Amon Amarth, and after the relatively experimental flavour of previous album Surtur Rising sees the band returning to a more simplistic approach with an album that bursts out of the speakers with a furious energy more akin to their earlier output.